Electric-lamp socket.



W. G. LINDBMANN.

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED 101122, 1913.

1,086,543. Petented Feb. 10, 1914.

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3mm/ido@ w1/mme@ l I WILLIAM G. LINDEMANN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Application filed .Tune 2, 1913. Serial No. 771,160.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be itknown that I, VILLIAM G. LrNDE- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric- Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates more particularly to the metal casing or housing of the socket, and is applicable to keyless sockets as well as to sockets provided with key or other switches for turning on and off the light.

The main objects of the invention are to facilitate access to interior parts of the socket, such as the cord or wire connections and the switch mechanism, if present, without disturbing the shade holder, switch key or attachment of the socket .to an electrolier or other fixture, especially an ornamental or other fixture in which such attachment is not easily accessible; and generally to improve the construction of lamp sockets of this class.

It consists in the construction, rrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the saine parts in the several figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of a lamp socket embodying the invention, with a lamp inserted therein; Fig. 2 is an axial section of the socket; Fig. 3 is a view of the upper or larger end of the body of the socket housing; Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the housing cap; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the body of the housing; and Fig. 6 is an axial section of' portions of the separable body and cap of the housing.

The housing or casing of the socket consists of two separable parts or sections, a. cylindrical body a, and a. cap b, which. are. preferably made of sheet metal, such as brass. The body part or section a, has a larger end portion for the reception of an insulating block or head c of vthe usual or any suitable construction, and a smaller end portion for the reception of a threaded lamp holder d, which is attached to the block c and is of the usual or any suitable construction. the body a has a screwthread pressed therein, and above the serewthread is formedA with av bead e. t its upper or larger end the body a is formed, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3, 5 and t5, with angular or laterally and reversely offset slots f, having closed ends g, as shown in Fig. 5. These slots are preferably pressed into and not cut through, the sheet nietal. The cap a, formed with a cylindrical riin fitting over the upper or larger end of the body Z), is provided on the inside of the rim with lugs L, as shown in Figs. at and 6, adapted to enter and engage with the slots f. The cap is also formed or provided with a. neck a', in which an insulating bushing j isthreaded. Vhen the socket is attached to an` electrolier or other fixture, the bushing j is extended and fastened thereto so as to support the socket in the usual manner. The cord 7c or wires by which the lanip is supplied with current, passes loosely through this bushingand is connected with the Contact pieces with which the insulating block c is provided, in the usual or any suitable inanner. The cap is also provided with an insulating lining, Z, conforming therewith in shape and having an outwardly flanged margin corresponding with the offset or shoulder between the rounded portion of the cap and its cylindrical rim, as shown in Fig 2.

A cylindrical insulating lining m, insert-ed between the body d of the housing and the block c, is inwardly flanged at its upper end over the upper end of the block, to holdit in place thereon, as shown in Fig. 2.

A cylindrical locking sleeve n, threaded in the lower or smaller end of the body a, is adapted when screwed into place therein, to hear at its upper end against the lower end of the block c, and to press it upwardly against vthe cap b or its lining, and thereby confine the lugs 7L of the cap in the upwardly offset ends f/ of the slots f in the body a and lock the parts of the housing securely together, as shown in Figs. 2 and (i.

'.l he socket is shown in Fig, 2 as provided with a snap switch for turning off and on the current which supplies the lanip. This The lower or smaller end of switch may be of the usual or any suitable construction for the purpose, and comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, a rotary metalhead o and spring contact pieces p and (7 inclosed in said block, which is recessed and made in two parts or sections to admit of assembling the parts ci the switch. The stem fr of the switch head 0, which has a bearing in the head o and projects laterally therefrom, is provided at its outer end with aI key s, or other means for turning it.

The body a of the housing is notched or slotted at t, and the lining m is correspondingly but reversely notched or slotted to pass over the shank of the key s or switch stem, thereby avoiding the necessity of removing the key or operating connection of the switch when the parts of the housing are separated and the block c is removed therefrom.

A cylindrical insulating sleeve u, interposed between the lamp holder al and locking sleeve n, is inwardlyvianged at its upper end and clamped between said holder and the block c to which it is attached, as shown in Fig. 2.

A shade-holder o, preferably formed as shown, of sheet metal, with an internally threaded flange or collar fitting the thread on the smaller end of the body a, is screwed firmly against the bead e, which serves to limit and lock it in place.

To obtain access to the internal parts of the socket, the lamp being removed, the locking sleeve n, the lower end of which projects slightly below the lower end of the body a and is formed with a knurled rim, is unscrewed sufficiently to release the block c and permit the body and cap b 'to be moved axially toward each other far enough to allow the lugs h on the cap to pass out of engagement with the odset ends g of the slots f. One part of the housing is then turned relative to the other, till the lugs h register with the open ends of the slots f, whereupon the body is released and withdrawnfrom the cap, the cord 7c having sufficient slack to permit the separation ofthe parts and the withdrawal of the block c clear from the cap.

When the body a is detached from the cap it is free to be withdrawn from the block c, which is thus exposed with the cord connections attached thereto, and may be readily taken apart to gain access to the switch. The socket is as readily reassembled by a reversal of the above mentioned operations, the sleeve fa being finally screwed into the body a against the block c, to lock and hold the lugs L in the offset ends g of the slots f. Access is thus had to the internal parts of the socket without removing the shade holder from lthe housing and without disturbing the attachment of the cap b to an electrolier or other fixture, or removing the key s or other operating connection of the switch, when the socket is provided with a switch.

lVhile the locking sleeve a may be used under all conditions in a lamp socket of the class herein shown and described`to secure and hold the parts of the housing together in the proper relation to each other, it is specially designed for, and is of particular advantage in connection with, chandeliers, or fixtures having husks or ornamental covers in which the lamp sockets are inclosed and inaccessible.

I claim:

1. In an electric lamp socket the combination with an insulating block provided with cord connections and a lamp-holder, of a housing for inclosing said block and connections comprising two separable parts, a body and a cap, one having laterally and reversely offset slots in one end and the other having lugs adapted to engage said slots, and a locking sleeve threaded in the body of the housing and abutting against one end of said block, the other end of which bears against said cap.

2. In an electric lamp socket the combination with an insulating block provided with cord connections and a lamp holder, of a housing therefor composed of two separable parts, a body having an enlar ed end for the reception of said block an a ca fitting over the larger end of the bod an provided with an opening for the cor one of said parts having laterally and reversely offset slots and the other having lugs ada ted to engage said slots, and a sleeve threa ed in the smaller end of'said body and abutting against one end of said block, the other end of which bears against said cap.

3. In an electric lamp socket the combination with an insulating block provided with cord connections and a lam holder, of a housing therefor composed o two separable parts, a body having a larger en d for the reception of said block and a smaller end for the reception of the lamp holder, and a cap fitting over thelarger end of the body, one of said parts having laterally and reversely offset slots and the other having lugs adapted to engage said slots, a locking sleeve threaded in the smaller end of said body and abutting against one end of said block, the other end of which bears against said cap, and an insulating sleeve interposed between said locking sleeve .and the lamp holder. l

4. In an electric lamp socket the combination with an insulating block provided with a lamp holder, switch and cord connections, of a metallic housing therefor composed of two separable parts, a body having a larger end for the reception of said block and a smaller end for the reception of the lamp holder, the larger end being slotted to body and abutting against one end of said pass over the switch stem, and a oapiitting block, the other end of which bears against over the larger end of the body, one of said Said cap.

parts being formed with laterally and re- WILLIAM G. LINDEMANN. versely offset slots and the other with lugs Witnesses:

adapted to engage said slots, and a locking F. A. O'rro,

sleeve threaded in the smaller end of said E. H. LUEDCKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latentl.

Washington, D. C. 

